Sunday, December 28, 2008

"The UK is currently dangerously low in it's stocks of blood.Therefore the NHS spends lots of taxpayers money on advertising and marketing costs in order to increase donor levels.

However, if the NHS changed one simple rule, they could potentially have several million extra donors eligible to give blood - instantly and without any marketing costs.

How? Allow gay people to give blood.

The UK law is outdated, stereotypical and discriminatory towards gay men.More than that, it is risking lives - the UK urgently needs more blood.

A straight man who has sex with a different girl every weekend can give blood TODAY.Intravenous Drug users can give blood after 1 year.Prostitute users can give blood after 1 year.Those who have had sex abroad in a high risk HIV country can give blood after 18 months.

Gay men are banned FOR LIFE, even if they've only ever had sex with one partner and they used protection."

SIGN THE PETITION that will be sent to the NHS blood donor Chief Executive and the Prime Minister later in 2008.

I think these organizations are starting to wise up and realize that it isnt a population but segments of populations that carry risks. There are effective ways to screen out high risk groups without discriminating against a whole group of people. I know the blood services here, has to follow the FDA but they gladly forwarded my petition because they agree with me, they have to enforce the rules but they would like to see the blood ban overturned.

We still need to push the FDA to change their widespread ban against homosexuals. Amazing how a federal agency can discriminate against an entire population when there is little scientific evidence showing that gay men are more likely to infect the bloodstream with HIV anymore.

A thought experiment... the strategy of let's get tested TOGETHER BEFORE we have sex, for A VARIETY of STDs. The same strategy that works for safety of the blood supply, a sexual health checkup reduces ambiguity and can be like anything else potential sex partners might do together.

I think all couples should seek a check-up for STD's but I am not sure how this would help in changing the blood ban policy. Are you suggesting people provide documentation of a recent exam to show they have been clean?

> I think all couples should seek a check-up for STD's > but I am not sure how this would help in changing > the blood ban policy. Are you suggesting people > provide documentation of a recent exam to show > they have been clean?

Potential sex partners getting tested TOGETHER BEFORE having sex, for A VARIETY of STDs get their tests results together. Before getting a blood transfusion blood is tested.

i hope and truly hope that there will be no discrimination towards me the same as we people feel when "normal" people discriminate against us!

anywayhere is my point for this thread!i would love if they did realistic studies.....if they allowed (known)confident gay peoples blood/sperm to go into blood/sperm banks and then allowed 25 yrs to pass and see if homosexuality is a genetic thing or just a chance/personal thing...........i am quite sure but cannot be confidently certain(due to "facts" from the medical science world)that whether a person is homosexual,heterosexual or bisexual or asexual...it should not mean that the blood recipients/offspring will be affected/identical to the blood or sperm donorhope that makes sense!secondly........oooops -forgot my 2nd point!hahahahave a great new year gay or not!

oh yeah...i rememberi wonder with people who say adamantly that they are not gay

i wonder if we were able to force people who are homophobic to actually give homosexual activity a once off chance......to see if they get sexually aroused(physically or psychologically)

and just check whether its peer pressure that sways them to be heterosexual or whether they are truly not into same sex(such as myself....i am not homophobic or homosexual.......unless you consider me to be lesbian/gay as an xxy individual)food for thought people dont you think?:)

Ya know....Straight people can have the HIV/AIDS virus in their blood!

I don't know why the hell people don'tsee that you can't tell which blood comesfrom straights and which one comes from gays....My gosh! Your sexual preference shouldn't bea factor in blood donations....